Electric Vehicles: Transition

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Excerpts

Wednesday 11th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The ZEV mandate is the largest carbon-saving measure across government, providing policy stability and regulatory certainty, and is an essential driver of investment and consumer confidence. It is the Government’s long-standing commitment to have a review of the ZEV mandate. It will commence later this year and will be published in 2027. It is absolutely crucial that we have confidence across the system to make sure that we move forward successfully.

[Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Con)]

My Lords, the Minister will be aware that there is resistance among those living in rural communities to switching from petrol and diesel vehicles to electric vehicles. What was the rationale behind introducing pay per mile? What assessment has been made of the impact that it will have in rural areas? Will the Government postpone it until after 2030 to ensure that more people will purchase EVs in rural areas?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

The Government take very seriously the issue of rural communities and recognise that car transport is essential to people’s mobility. It is essential that we move forward with coming up with a fair system. That will be the basis for all our conversations and decisions in order to make this equitable as we go forward over the years.